Apparatus for collecting serum



H. SPAHLlNGER.

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING SERUM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, I918- 1,4c1 1,0 Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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l mum mu IIIIIlIIIlIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 '1llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlII/fl UNITED STATES PATENT oFF cE;

HENRY sPAnLInGEn, or GENEVA; SWITZERLAND.

APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING- SERUM.

Application filed February 16,1918; Serial No. 217,727.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENR SPAHLINGER, bacteriologlst, a'citizen of Switzerland, re-

siding at Geneva, Canton of Geneva, in the Confederation of Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Collecting Serum, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore as far as I am aware, it has been customary in extracting serum, to permit the blood from which the serum is to be extracted, to coagulate to a predetermined extent, and then to apply pressure to the same in order to cause the serum'to ooze from the coagulated blood; In this process, the amount of the weight employed, depends upon the solidity of the coagulated clot of blood, and the quantity of serum obtained depends relatively upon the amount of compression and the time during which the blood is compressed; the blood being more or lew fluid, as will be understood, has heretofore limited the compression to which'it could be subjected, and this in turn, has limited the quantity of serum obtained. Now I have discovered that by employing devices by which the blood from which the serum is to be extracted is suitably penetrated, the coagulation of the blood is materially augmented and consequently its solidity is greatly increased. This of course permits ot' the application of greater weight which in a given time results in an increased yield of the serum. In carrying out this invention, therefore, I employ a suitable receptacle made of glass or other suitable material a-nd fitted with acplungerplate extending from which are series of projections adapted to penetrate the clot of blood from which'the serum is to be extraoted,'in order to augment thecoagulation of the blood to increase its solidity, therebymaking it pos sible to compress it toa greater extentfwith a consequent increasein the yieldof serum obtained.

In carrying out the invention, the receptaole is preferably provided with a removable cap or cover through which the plunger rodpasses, thessame being provided. at its outer'end-with a plateor table upon which I the weights employed may be placed, and the invention also includes asuitable" joint between the plunger-"rod and that portion ofthe cap or cover through-Which thesame passes inorder to ensure the sterility of this part of the apparatus; Furthermore, in introducing the blood to the receptacle, I prefer to employ a curved intake pipe, with the orifice at its inner end adjacent or in close proximity to the inner surface of one of the walls or the receptacle, and provided at its outer end with overhanging portions,

so that the blood as admitted to the receptacle, will flow down the inner surface in? this wall of the receptacle without frothing. and in being admitted, Will not carry along with it extraneous matter, which if 'uncovered, might enter the intake orifice of this pipe or tube. 1

In the drawing: i r I F'g.v l is a central longitudinal section of the apparatus comprising my present invention Fig. 2 isa plan view of the cover. I V F g. 3' is an inverted plan view of the metal plate employed as a press, and F1g. 4 is a central view showing a modified form of this plate. Referring to the drawing a indicatesa cylindrical glass receptacle, 6 a cover of metal provided with a rim 6. The cover I) is made with a central stemor sleeve 0 proylded with the screw d. In the cover there Js-an opening 6 fitted with a smallmetal p pe 7' curved into semicircular form for the introduction of blood into the receptacle. The p pe 7 is cut atits upper end inthe form of a beak so that the top extends over the orifice and makes a' protective extension 9 designed to prevent germs from the air from falling into the pipe and getting into the receptacle in the course of the operation of taking blood and passing the same to the receptacle; The orifice at the lower end it of this pipe is placed a few millimetres from theinner wall of the receptacle. The cover b is also perforated as indicated at iformc ng an openingfor introducing into the relceiven a small glass pipe used for the removalof the serum. I I I The apparatus for compressing and penetrating theclot of blood consists of a metalof the plate. Asindicated in Fig. 4, blades m may be employed for the purpose of penetrating the clot of blood instead-of the teeth as shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the mote the oozing of the serumup to theitop rod is is fitted with a metal disc 0 provided part of a rubber tube 1 the lower end of the rubber tube being attached to the upper part c of the sleeve c,and therobject of which is to ensure sterility oi the apparatus during the operation of raising and lowering of the plate 1. Above the medal disc 0 and forming part thereof is an extension g which serves as a support for a plate 8, which screws onto theextension q, and upon which plate weights" may be placed during the use of the apparatusto provide the necessary pressureto produce a desired yieldof serum.

In the operation of the apparatus, the various parts are first carefully washed, and

then thccover Z) is placed uponthe rod 70 by causing this latter to pass through the sleeve'c. Themetal'disk 0 is then screwed onto the end of the rod 70 and the-rod fixed inthe'sl'eeve c by the screw it The cover 7) is-now placed upon the receiver a, and the space u (see Figure 1) which may exist between the rim 6' of the cover and-the outer wall o'fthe receiveris carefully stuli'ed with cotton." The rubber tube '9 then attached at pand c and the openings 9 and i areplugged with cotton stoppers (not shown inthe arming), and "the sterilization of the apparatus is proceeded with. When this iseoniplete the blood from'whieh it is desired to collect the serum Its-introduced intothe apparatus. To effect this introduction sanitarily the cotton stopper in the opening 9 is-renioved and is rc lilalced by ajglass' cannula which is conne'ctedto the trocar by a suitable tube. 1 1

In this operation'o't' taking the blood, the plate Z is preferably first secured in the desired position, and a quantity of blood admittd to the receptacle, sufficient to rise.

therein aroun'd'the teeth ends or blades in toa level adjacent theu nder surface oithe plate, butjnot so as to come into contact with the plate. p I

In flowing iritothereceptacle, due to the close proximity of the inner orifice of the tube of, the blood is projected against thewall of the-receptacle and riins'do'wn the same so asto prevent the formation of froth; the coagulationof the blood isthen permitted 1 'to 'take place fora predetermined time, and

as'will be apparent, by the'proj ections penetrating'the clot of blood'or the upper poi tioris the'r'oflthe coagulationlof the penetrated portion of'the clotbfblood will be materially augmented and its 7 solidity greatly increased. -The=plate'Z"-is then re leased by unscrewing [the *set screw '(Z- and suitable weights placed upon the plate 3 to (empre s-me clot'of' 'bl'ood. "It warm-a parentthat by the increased degree (Stooagulatien and 1 consequent: solidity, greaterer' "heavier weights may be pissed "on the plate 8 and consequently an L increased yield steamed, tha ircou'Id posSlbIy be=t 1e case1f Z is removed, care being taken to first singe the opening The cotton stoppen'placed inthe opening i'as has been described previously, is removed and quickly replaced by a pad of sterilized cotton under the protection'oi which the small pipe for removing the serumis introduced into the receptacle (0 through the hole 2'; The serum having been collected, the small'pip'eisslowly withdrawn, care being taken not to displace the pad of cotton which closes the opening'i which pad ser'ves toclose the openil'ig-i and prevent any germs from falling-into the re ceptacle; After having stirred up 3 the clot the pressure maybeinc're'ased byadditional weights and after aperiod oll'i'roin E ite 48 hours another quantity ot'seruin inaybe' obtained under the same'conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle for holdingblood from'which the serum is to be extracted, and a device with in the receptacleadapted to'extend into the blood therein to augment its coagulation and increase the solidity thereof.

2. In-an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle for holding blood from which the serum is to beextracted, a device within the receptacle adaptedto extendinto "the blood to augment its coagulationand increase thesolidity thereof,*and means connec'ted to the said device and extending through the walls of the receptaclefor oper ating the said devicefexteriorly of the receptacle. v j

3 In anapparatus for extracting serum,

the serum is to be extracted, a device-within'the receptacle adapted to extend intothe I blood to augment its coa'gulation and increase the solidity thereof, means connected to the 'said device and extending through the walls of the receptacle for operating the said device exteriorl'y or the receptac1e,fand

means associated with the aforesaid means to insure the'steriIity of that part "of the same which entersfthei'eceptacle.

T4. In an apparatus for extractingserum,

a receptacle for holding blood from wh-i'ch the serum is l to be extracted; a plate adjnstr V able to position within the 'i'eceptacle, and

devicesextending from. "the *sai-dplate and adapted 1 to be surronnded "by the blood in the receptaele'to an eat its coagulation and inerease"ti1eso1i ity thereo 5. Inanapparatuses]? extracti scram, V

a receptacle. for 1holdingfb'lood 'fromwh-ich the serumis to'be extracted; a piatesnevabie within the receptacle. projectionseonnccted r m the-said-p1ate and exeaaiag aiereaem so as to extend into the blood in the receptacle to augment its coagulation and increase the solidity thereof, and a rod connected to the said plate and extending through a wall of the receptacle for adjusting the plate to position within the re: ceptacle.

6. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle for holding blood from which the serum is to be extracted, a plate movable within the receptacle, projections connected to the said plate and extending therefrom .50 as to extend into the blood in the receptacle to augment its coagulation and increase the solidity thereof, a rod connected to the said plate and extending through a wall of the receptacle for adjusting the plate to position within the receptacle, and means associated with. the rod for insuring the sterility of that portion thereof which is permitted to enter the receptacle.

7. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle, a cover therefor, .a rod passing through the said cover, a plate secured to that end of the rod which extends into the receptacle, and a flexible covering for the joint between the rod and the cover of the receptacle to ensure the sterility of that part ofthe rod which is permitted to enter the receptacle.

8. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle, a cover therefor, a rod passing through a bearing provided therefor in the said cover, a plate secured to that end of the rod which lies within the receptacle, and a tube of flexible material secured at one end to the said bearing for the rod and at the other end to the outer portion of the said rod to ensure the sterility of that part of the rod which enters the receptacle.

9. In an apparatus for extracting serum,

a receptacle, a cover therefor, a rod passing through a bearing provided therefor in the said cover, a plate secured to that end of the rod which lies within the receptacle, 9. disk secured to the said rod adjacent the the said rod passes, and which at one end is secured to the said bearing in the coverand at the other end to the said disk on the said rod to ensure the sterility of that part of the rod which enters the receptacle.

10. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle, an intake tube for the blood from' which the serum is to be extracted, the intake tube being secured in the receptacle with its discharge orifice within the receptacle adjacent the surface of one wall thereof and with its intake orifice exterior of the receptacle and covered by an overhanging part thereof to prevent germs from falling into the said inlet tube.

11. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a substantiallv semi-circular intake pipe for the blood from which the serum is'to be extracted, the said intake being so connected to the receptacle that its discharge orifice lies within the receptacle adjacent the surface of one wall thereof and its intake orifice exterior of the receptacle and covered by an overhanging part thereof to prevent germs from falling into the said intake pipe.

12. In an apparatus for extracting serum, a receptacle, a cover therefor and a substantially semi-circular intake pipe for the blood from which the serum is to be extracted, the said intake pipe extending through and being secured in the said cover in such a position that when the cover is in place, the discharge orifice of the intake pipe lies adjacent the face of one of the walls of the receptacle and the intake orifice thereof exterior of the receptacle and covered by an overhanging part thereof to prevent germs from falling into the said intake pipe.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SPAHLINGER.

Witnesses DR. R01) DE WURTE BE G, LoUIs W; MURRAY. 

